Critique my kitchen plan

[RainbowsLemonDrop]

I've attached our kitchen drawing, which is the first time we've seen the plan and the first time I've renovated a kitchen!

We currently don't have the island, that's potentially being added in the new kitchen.

We need more storage, better cupboard access/space and we are merging our current utility room and kitchen together.

My first issues would be the induction hob being on the island. I don't want to carry hot pans etc, we also have a young baby who will be crawling soon. I don't know where else the induction hob could go? I don't want to brick the wall up as we'd lose a lot of light but I think this may be the only option?

Also, send me your best ideas/must haves that you've added into a new kitchen :)

I think the hob is a bit of a danger hazard being there. It's right in the middle of a walkway through the house. I'd be concerned that it would be easy to knock into Pam handles etc.

I'd move the hob to under the other window.

Are the triple glass doors already there? Our neighbours knocked out the utility, then put a whole bank of cupboards across the back wall. I assume the washing machine etc was included in that. If you could remove one of the glass panels, you could do similar?

Agreed I don’t like the hob there, it’s next to what looks like a walkway so the person cooking would be in the way.

can it go under the window nearer the ovens?

Also, and this is more personal choice, we’ve just taken out similar cupboards as those carved bits collect dust and are impossible to fully clean.

we also added a row of high cupboards to reach the ceiling to get rid of the dead space up there that just collects greasy dust.

We I agree about the hob seems like a completely impractical place to have it. Move it to the main kitchen area and then you will have more room at the island for seating. I wouldn’t want to be sat that close to hob when food is cooking!

I agree not we. There’s not a group of us here critiquing your plans!

This is the current kitchen - we are putting bifolds in where the patio door is now and getting rid of the breakfast bar.

We can't have the hob under the window (which is where I wanted it originally) due to building regulations apparently...

@ChristmasCakeAndStilton we are doing similar actually, the bank of floor to ceiling units are where are current utility room is.

Argh decisions.

Thanks for all your help so far

Did they forget about the hob, so chuck it onto an island rather than redraw the plans? It’s bonkers. It also looks as if it is too near the double doors for them to open properly.

get rid of the tall cupboard ( ? ) is one of them the fridge , and put the oven further along, use the extra 60 cm for the hob. The island can have storage cupboards underneath. The hob should always be in a working line with the sink.

a floor plan would be useful if you want more suggestions.

Agree a floor plan would be really helpful. It’s hard to see what space you really have.

Given you have the other window, bricking up the side one might be an option. Consider your orientation and whether you get much sunshine/light through that one.

would allow a run of wall units incorporating an extractor (although I don’t really like those either).
have you got an extractor planned for above where the hob is? Not going to be ideal to have a hanging one and ceiling ones you need to check where your beams are.

the island does look too close to the internal doors, especially if people are sat there, where do they go to?

That’s a shame as I was going to suggest you do away with the island and go for u shape with a breakfast bar and put the hob on that, on the “kitchen” side - which is probably where the existing one is 😂

@RainbowsLemonDrop I had a similar conundrum with a hob in an iffy location or block up a window. I blocked the window and kept everything very light coloured. I put a full length glass splash back behind the hob wall with under cabinet lights to brighten it. I’ve never looked back. So glad I blocked the window to get the best layout. You can always brighten a room up but you can’t move the hob once it’s in.

Can you post a floor plan? It looks tight to fit an island in that space and it seems quite far from the rest of the kitchen.

If you decide to block out one of the windows and move the hob I would lose the two wall cabinets to keep it feeling light and spacious. I didn’t have any top wall units in my last kitchen and it felt so much lighter and open. Was previously a very dark kitchen. We’ve moved now and although the kitchen is lighter I’m sticking away from any top wall units.

The island looks like an afterthought.

Would be much better a table.

Can you post a floor plan?

Small thing but if you are short the stacked ovens are a nightmare. I used to have this and couldn’t really use the top oven. I am five foot.

I thought a hob had to have a certain amount of work surface either side? That’s looks really dangerous! I would forgo the stacked oven as much as I like them to create more space for a hob. I the nicest way it feels like you are asking for things (island/stacked oven) that just isn’t right for your kitchen so they have tried to cram everything in. It’s not a great layout.

The island seems a long way away from the kitchen. I would change this for a table that several people can sit at.

Yeah we need to see a plan, is that your main access to garden and do you have separate dining space?

With small kids I personally like having a kitchen table to eat in the kitchen (being able to grab something from fridge / drawer while they’re in highchair) and gives flexibility to keep the floor space open and you can see them crawling around, the island looks too big and awkward. I would lose it, never got the appeal of a kitchen island unless it’s a huge kitchen!

I would definitely go with hob above the single oven rather than a stacked oven unless you do a lot of cooking where you’re likely to need both ovens at once?

That island is high going to compromise access to the back door, surely? Islands are nice if you have space for them, but a total waste of space if you don't.

Agree with pp about losing the island. You haven't got enough space. I'd have a table and probably narrow shelving on the far side past where the island is now

I agree with this, the current layout looks much more practical and I don't think the new island works at all especially with the hob on it.

A must have for me is a waste disposal unit in the sink.

Agreed about the island, I hate it but other half wants one. The internal doors lead through to our living room and then the dining room is at the back of the house.

The house is a weird layout in that respect.

@Stripedbag101 I am short, I can't reach the cupboards we currently have..

I don't have a floor plan, I'll try find one from when we purchased the house...